Police officer Perspectives on a Pre-booking Diversion Program for People who use Drugs in Philadelphia.

ABSTRACT: Pre-booking diversion enables police officers to divert individuals to supportive services in lieu of prosecution for minor crimes related to substance use. We surveyed 204 Philadelphia Police Department officers authorized to initiate pre-booking diversions. We used bivariate x² tests and multivariate logistic regression to examine differences in respondent perspectives. 78% agreed that pre-booking diversion provides important services to people who use drugs, 69% wanted to expand the geographic score of programming, and 52% wanted to expand eligibility. Yet 59% questioned whether diversion is "what police should be doing", and only 27% believed that it will improve public safety. In logistic regression, the perceived value that the police department places on referrals correla

SUBMITTER: Shefner RT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11636223 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature